AFTER four preliminary finals in a row decided by a goal or less – for three wins and one loss – Hawthorn’s 27-point win against Fremantle was a bit of a relief, according to defender Ben Stratton.

Stratton has had a habit of delivering in clutch moments in preliminary finals.

But no last-minute heroics were required this time around, with the Hawks opening up a five-goal lead after fighting off a spirited Dockers comeback at the start of the final term.

“It feels a bit different to the last couple of years actually,” Stratton said post-game.

“The last couple of years were a bit closer and it was a bit of a relief at the end, but at the moment it feels like a really good interstate win, against a hostile crowd.”

The Dockers jumped out to a fast start, kicking the first two goals, and had the support of a parochial home crowd at Domain Stadium.

But from there the Hawks kicked five unanswered goals to turn a deficit into a handy advantage by quarter time.

“They were loud when they got those first two goals,” Stratton said.

“It’s pretty hard to silence the crowd when they’re up and about like that.

“We just knew if we stuck at it and played our way things would sort of turn and we didn’t let that worry us too much, we’ve been in that position before and come out fine.”

That the Hawks did – cementing a fourth consecutive grand final appearance.